Sand Management in Poorly Consolidated Formations

5 – 6 March 2014

Baku, Azerbaijan | JW Marriott Absheron Baku

About this Workshop

Abstract

The Caspian region provides one of the most challenging reservoirs, well and production operation environments with respect to sand control and management. Deferral in production and injection due to sand production represents considerable volumes for many fields in the Caspian region.

The main producing reservoirs are thick, young and poorly cemented, due to the high rate of sediment supply mainly from the Volga River. The isolation of the Caspian Sea has resulted in unconsolidated sandstones with a large fraction of finer materials - as high as 70% of produced sand can have grain size less than 50 microns. Alternative completion solutions have been tested on several fields, ranging from perforated casing to open-hole gravel packing. Drilling and completion is a challenge in the region due to rapid vertical variation in formation pressures, rock properties and fluid types, again linked to the young depositional system still being active with respect to fluid movement. In addition, numerous mud volcanos introduces drilling and production management challenges. As well as this, there are specific operational and environmental challenges, mainly linked to Caspian Sea being isolated: platforms, rigs and intervention vessels must be built locally, and produced water must either be re-injected or sent onshore.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this workshop is to focus on various aspects of sand control and sand production management within the oil and gas and gas condensate producers (primarily) and injectors, covering both onshore and offshore, by equally sharing experiences and challenges between the companies already operating in the Caspian region and those from other regions facing similar challenges in soft sand environments.

Being the first technical SPE workshop in Azerbaijan, this event will facilitate a networking opportunity for professionals both within the region and externally.

The workshop is a limited attendance meeting and is designed for professionals in the oil and gas industry within the Caspian region or outside who are involved in planning, designing, executing, evaluating and the decision making of sand control completions in wells and sand management solutions.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

The workshop is aimed at people whose principal job falls into any of the following categories:

Academia

Completion Engineering

Drilling Engineering

Field Development and Operations

Geology/Geoscience

Geomechanics/Rock Mechanics

Petroleum Engineering

Production Engineering

Reservoir Engineering

Facility Engineering

Workshop Guidelines

SPE workshops are topic-specific, intensive events that are smaller in scope and size than conferences. Workshops maximise the exchange of ideas among attendees and presenters through brief technical presentations followed by extended Q&A periods. Focused topics attract an informed audience eager to discuss issues critical to advancing both technology and best practices.

Format

Two days of informal sessions, with a number of short presentations, case studies, breakout discussions and an evening welcome reception on Tuesday 4 March and dinner on Wednesday 5 March. Full details will be provided with the registration pack which will be sent in February.

Attendance

75-85 delegates from relevant disciplines with proven experience and/or knowledge of the subject areas being covered.

Continuing Education Units

The workshop qualifies for SPE Continuing Education Units (CEU), at the rate of 0.1 CEU per hour of the workshop.

Scribe's Report

The steering committee will appoint a scribe to make a full report of the workshop, summarising all presentations and discussion. This report will be circulated to all attendees. The copyright of the scribe’s report will belong to SPE.

Poster Presenter Opportunities

SPE welcomes posters at this event. If you would like to display a poster and share your expertise with the attendees of this workshop, please submit a brief description of your proposed topic upon registration.

There is no dedicated poster session in this workshop, instead posters will be displayed throughout.

Sustainability Statement

SPE are committed to ensuring that the environmental impact of our events is kept to a minimum. We aim to make progress in the field of sustainability through reducing energy usage, promoting eco-friendly mobility, reducing water consumption and limiting waste, all core values in keeping with those of the oil and gas industry.

Attendance Certificate

All attendees will receive a certificate from SPE attesting to their participation.

Cancellation Policy

Written notice received 30 days before the starting date of the workshop entitles registrants to a 50% refund. There will be no refund for cancellations received after this time but alternative delegates will be welcomed.